Definition

1. Adjective:

   • Sudden and loud: Describes something that happens or is produced with a sudden, violent, and often loud release of energy.
   • Liable to lead to sudden change or violence: Describes a situation, issue, or emotion that is highly volatile and likely to erupt suddenly.
   • Serving to explode or characterized by explosion or sudden outburst: Describes something designed to explode or exhibiting the qualities of an explosion.

2. Noun:

   • A chemical substance that undergoes a rapid chemical change (with the production of gas) on being heated or struck: A material that can rapidly release energy, heat, and gas, causing an explosion.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:

  • The argument ended with an explosive shout that startled everyone.
  • The political scandal is an explosive issue that could destabilize the government.
  • The demolition team handled the explosive device with extreme caution.

• Noun:

  • The military transported the explosive in a specially armored vehicle.
  • Dynamite is a powerful explosive used in mining and construction.

Advanced Usage

• "explosive growth": Extremely rapid and sudden increase.

  • The city has seen explosive growth in its tech sector over the last five years.

• "explosive force": The power or energy released in an explosion.

  • The explosive force of the blast shattered windows for blocks.

Variants and Related Words

• Explode (verb): To burst or shatter violently and noisily.

  • The old boiler could explode if the pressure gets too high.

• Explosion (noun): A violent and destructive shattering or blowing apart of something.

  • The explosion was heard miles away.

• Explosively (adverb): In a sudden and violent manner.

  • The crowd reacted explosively to the winning goal.

Synonyms

• Volatile (adj.): Liable to change rapidly and unpredictably, especially for the worse.
• Detonator (n.): A device used to trigger an explosive. (Note: This is a specific part, not a direct synonym for the noun "explosive").

Related Phrasal Verbs/Phrases

• "to go off like an explosive": To react with sudden, extreme anger or emotion.
  • When he heard the news, he went off like an explosive.

Related Idioms

• A powder keg: A situation that is likely to become dangerous or violent very suddenly.
  • The tension in the region is a powder keg waiting for a spark. (This idiom describes an explosive situation).

Adjective

1. sudden and loud
   • an explosive laugh
2. liable to lead to sudden change or violence
   • an explosive issue
   • a volatile situation with troops and rioters eager for a confrontation
3. serving to explode or characterized by explosion or sudden outburst
   • an explosive device
   • explosive gas
   • explosive force
   • explosive violence
   • an explosive temper

Noun

1. a chemical substance that undergoes a rapid chemical change (with the production of gas) on being heated or struck